KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - The Afghan government on Sunday rejected a proposal to ban Facebook during an ongoing deadlock over the presidential election, despite fears that social media postings have fanned ethnic hatred.

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN: The head of the European Union's Afghan election observer mission condemned the suspension of mobile text messaging services across the country, saying it threatened the transparency of the poll.

NEW YORK, US: Global advertising rose 8.8% year-on-year in Q1 to total US$118 billion* based on published rate cards, as advertisers spent more on television and continued to invest in booming consumer Asian and Latin American markets.

NEW YORK, US: Consumer confidence fell in 25 out of 52 countries in Q4 2010 as hope for a global economic recovery evaporated at the end of last year, according to the latest edition of the Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Index, which tracks consumer confidence, major concerns and spending intentions among online consumers.

DUBAI, UAE: The number of mobile subscriptions in the Middle East crossed the 200 million mark in 3Q10 to reach 202 million at end-September, according to research by Informa Telecoms & Media. Driven by growth in the less-developed markets like Iran and Iraq, the region's mobile market is still growing strongly, with the number of mobile subscriptions in the region increasing by almost 20% over the year to end-September.

SHANGHAI, CHINA: The Asian Marketing Effectiveness Festival, a joint venture between Haymarket and the International Advertising Festival, will take place 12 and 13 May at the Pudong Shangri-La hotel in Shanghai, China.